Container



Feb. 6, 1940. J. HOHL r CONTAINER L Q Filed Dec. 50, 1956 \NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 6, 1940 I tainers, particularly adapted 6 the like. slightly elastic, impervious material sold under .5 One object of the present invention is to prothe name of Pliofllm" and made from chlorinatvide a flexible-walled container having a new ed rubber compound. This material has the and improved seal, which may be easily and inthermoplastic characteristic of being readily vulexpensively formed to effect an hermetic closure, canized or sealed at a temperature of approxil and which may be easily broken by simple finger mately 115 C., so that the overlapping sections 10 manipulation, without rupturing, tearing or dethereof may be vulcanized or sealed together by stroying the container. the application of heat and pressure, even though As a feature of the present invention, the flexithe surfaces have been previously wetted by. conble-walled container is provided at one end with tact with liquids or moisture-carrying plastic a pair of substantially opposed finger tabs exmaterial. Another material which may be satistending from opposite panels of the.container factorily used in some constructions and for respectively and normally folded against these some materials, is a moisture-proof cellulosic p'anels T panels are bonded together across material of 'thetype sold under the trade name the end to form a closure seal which can be easily Heat Sealing Cellophane". As far as some usgo broken by merely pulling the opposed tabs apart. pects of the invention, are concerned, a thin sheet This manipulation causes the seal to be broken material having a waterproof thermoplastic. progressively from the center of the panels tocoating or layer such as that sold under the wards its sides, and simultaneously causes the trade name Korosealfior a sheet material sold two panels to be separated to form an opening under the trade name Parafilm and having a 25 through which the contents of the container can coating of latex andparafiln, may also be used. 25 be readily discharged. Also, as far as certain aspects of the invention Various other objects, features and advanare concerned, other materials may be used. tages of the invention will be apparent from the which may be fabricated into a casing by the following particular description and from an inuse of an adhesive or a solvent to sealably secure so Spection 0f the p nying drawing in which: adjacent surfaces of said material together.

Fig l is a front elevation of a container em- The inner layer of the laminated sheet from bodying the present invention, and shown in which the bag is made will hereinafter be recollapsed condition after being sealed at one ferred to as Pliofllm although it is to be underend and prior to being filled from the other end. stood that such a term, for the purpose of this Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken on the lines invention, and as far as many aspects of the 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1, respectively, but on a inventionare concerned, may include any matesomewhat larger scale, rial of the type or character hereinbefore Te- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the container of ferred to. Fig. 1 in inverted position and ready to be filled, In the specific construction shown in Figs.

0 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the container 1- 5, the container is fashioned from a flexible 40 after it has been filled and completely sealed. laminated sheet comprising an inner layer l2 of Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another form Pliofilm and an outer reenforcing sheet ll, of container embodying the present invention. cemented or otherwise secured thereto and made and of paper or, other similar flexible sheet material 5 'Fig. '7 is a section taken on line '|--'I of Fig. 6 which will not be injuriously affected by applibut on a somewhat larger scale. cation of sufllcient heat "and pressure to effect It must be understood that the thickness of sealing, fusing or vulcanizing of the Pliofllm. the various wall layers of the flexible container The longitudinal edges of this laminated sheet is shown in this drawing somewhat exagare sealed together in parallelism to form a flat gerated, and that in practice all of these layers tube having a longitudinal seam l4, and a pair 60 John Kohl, Westport, Conn,

assignments, to Owensassig nor, by Theme Illinois Glass Company,

Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of. Ohio Application December 30,

14. claims.

relates to flexible-walled confor the storage, various materials This invention shipment and dispensing of such as coffee, sugar, popcorn,

are very thin.

The container shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, is made of laminated sheet material, the inner layer. or coating of which is of such material that when portionsof such inner layer are superconfections and 1936, Serial No. 118,293 (01. 229-53) posed and pressed together under heat, they will weld, vulcanize or hermetically unite. As an example of such material, I may and preferably do employ a type of thin, flexible, transparent,

of opposed panels integrally, connected along their longitudinal edges.

The longitudinal seam ll of the tube has opposed sections of the Pliofilm autogenously bonded together, and is so constructed as to prevent opening. In the construction shown in any peeling or separating action between said bonded sections due to internal pressure action on said seal. For that purpose, one longitudinal side of the outer paper layer l3 extends beyond the corresponding longitudinal edge of the inner Pliofilm layer 12 to form a marginal extension l5, and the opposite longitudinal side of said inner layer l2 extends beyond the corresponding longitudinal edge of the outer paper layer l3 to form a marginal extension IS. The marginal outer layer extension I5 is cemented or otherwise secured to the outer face of the opposite longitudinal side section of the outer sheet 13, and the marginal Pliofilm extension I6 is heat-sealed to the inner face of the opposite longitudinal side section of the inner Pliofilm layer l2 to form an autogenous bond between said Pliofllm sections, said heat-sealing being effected by the application of heat and pressure.

Although the I2 is shown sealed its longitudinal edges, as far as certain aspects of the invention are concerned, said Pliofllm layer may be in the form of a seamless tube. I

As a feature of the els of the individual present invention, the pantubes are provided Figs. 1-5 these flanges are formed by folding the tubes longitudinally to form pleats 20 and 2 I. The inner lapping Pliofllm layers of said pleats are heatsealed-together at least at the bases of said pleats and advantageously throughout their defined finger tabs, pleats are substantially triangular in shape so that the lower ends of said pleats gradually merge into the general contour of the container when it is filled as shown-in Fig. 5. shape of the pleats also facilitates folding of said pleats against the opposed panels of the container, as will be more fully described.

In order to permit the formation of an hermetic seal across the top of the container, the two pleats panel, (Fig. 1) and is backed by a platen member varied in accordance with the sealing strength desired.-

The lower end of the resultant container is cut transversely as shown, and a simple seal may be formed there across by the application of heat and departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance it may extend along a section convexly curved with respect to the outside of the bag as set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 113,969, filed December 3, 1936.

The container as shown in Fig. 1 issealed at the top and opened of the contents of the transparent Pliofilm layer I2.

In order to open the container, all that is 50 necessary is to tudinal center line of the tube, and said flanges are folded and pressed against the panels 01' the tube away from said center line.

The tube issealed across the upperendthereof along seal lines 34 and 35 by the application of will intersect at the longitudinal center line of the bottom of the container at the center line as shown the tube as in the construction of Figs. 1-5, or may have their outer side alignment with each other, and their inner side portions extending upwardly towards the upper end of the container so that they will intersect in Fig. 6."-1i1$h13 manner an hermetic seal is formed across the upper end of the tube. y

The lower end of the container may be left open to permit the filling of said container from the bottom. After the container is filled it is transversely sealed along the bottom section B to provide a permanent seal. The heat across is miade hot enough to permit the transmission of sealing .heat

through the folded seam flanges 32 and 33 to the inner thermoplastic layer of the container material. If desired, the bottom edges may be line sealed similar to the top. I

The opening of the bag at the upper end is effected by bending the seam flanges 32 and 33 into substantially perpendicular position with respect to the container panels, and pulling these flanges apart to break the seal along the lines 34 and 35.

Although the containers of Figs. 6 and 7 are shown made from two sheets connected together at opposed edges, so far as certain aspects of the invention are concerned said container may be formed from a single sheet, and one of the finger tabs therefor may be formed by a pleating of said material, while the other finger tab is formed by a seam flange connecting the opposite edges of the sheet together as shown in Figs. 6 and '7. Also said sheets may be laminated with an inner layer of Pliofilm and the seam flange formed by the autogenous bonding of said layers.

By the term fiange" in the specification and claims herein is meant an extension integral with the panels of the container, and large enough to be grasped by the fingers for container-opening operation.

Having thus described my. invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A flexible-walled container having a pair of opposed panels bonded together at one end to form a seal, and a pair of finger tabs conected respectively to said panels at said end and disposed in approximately opposed relationship, whereby said seal may be broken and an opening formed at, said end by pulling said tabs apart.-

2. A flexible-walled container having opposite walls at least one of which presents an inner surface of thermoplastic material, whereby said walls may be sealed together, and having a pair of substantially opposed substantially triangular finger tabs carried respectively by said walls at one end of said container.

3. A flexible-walled container having a pair of opposed panels bonded together at one end to form a seal, and pleated respectively at said end at approximately opposed sections of said panels to form finger tabs.

4. A flexible-walled container having an inner surface of thermoplastic material, and having a pair of opposed panels folded" at one end at approximately opposed sections to form! a pair obliquely so that they portions extending in 'end to form finger tabs.

of substantially triangular pleats large enough to be grasped by the fingersto pull said panels apart to open the container, each pleat having its juxtaposed layers bonded together by said material.

5. A container of flexible material having a pair of opposed panels bonded autogenously together alongsections intersecting approximately at the longitudinal center line of said container to form a seal, and a pair of finger tabs connected to said panels and spaced respectively a short distance from opposite sides of said center line.

6; A flexible-walled container having an inner surface of thermoplastic material, and having a the center line of said container respectively.

7. A normally fiat container of flexible material having an inner thermoplastic surface in eluding a pair of similar opposed panels directly interconnected at their sides and hermetically sealed together at one end across the width of the container, said panels being flanged at aprloximately opposed sections thereof near said 8. A normally flat container of flexible material, including a pair of similar opposed panels adapted to be sealed together and provided at their upper ends with a pair of flanges extending longitudinally of said panels respectively, and having their bases spaced a comparatively short distance from opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the container flanges being folded against their respective panels away from said center line.

9. A normally flat container of flexible material, including a pair of similar opposed panels adapted to be sealed together and provided with a pair of scam flanges extendinglongitudinally the full length of said panels, said flanges having their bases offset a short distance from the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the respectively, said tabs comprising a seam flange for the container material.

11. A container made from two similar sheets of flexible material having inner thermoplastic surfaces, said sheets being autogenously bonded together at opposite edges thereof to form a fiat tube having a pair of substantially opposed seam flanges extending outwardly from the opposed panels of said tube, said panels being autogenously sealed together across one end of said tube.

12. A package including a flexible-walled container having a pair of similar opposed panels hermetically sealed together at the bottom and at the top, said panels having a pair offlanges respectively at the top in approxlmatelyopposed relationship serving as finger tabs by which the top seal may be broken and the two panels separated to form a discharge opening.

13. A fiat collapsed flexible-walled container having parallel closely juxtaposed opposite side be bonded together, and said side walls having a their side edges to form a pair of pleats large pair of substantially opposed finger tabs conenough to be grasped by the fingers to pull the nected respectively to said side walls at one end panels apart and means for sealing said panels of said container. together at Said end.

5 14. A flexible-walled container having a. pair of JOHN HOHL.

opposed panels folded at one end intermediate 01 

